July 2024 West Bank unrest

July 2024 West Bank unrest
Date	26 July 2024 – present
Location	West Bank, Palestine
Caused by	Alleged arrest attempt of Abu Shujaa by the Palestinian Authority Perceived repression of Palestinian militancy by the Palestinian Authority
Methods	Marches Rioting Armed fighting
Status	Ongoing
Parties
Palestinian Authority Palestinian National Security Forces Palestinian protestors Palestinian militias: Tulkarm Brigade Nour Shams Brigade Tubas Brigade
Casualties
Injuries	Unknown
Arrested	At least 2

In late July 2024, popular unrest directed towards the Palestinian Authority erupted in various areas of the West Bank. The unrest marks a significant escalation of violence between West Bank militant factions and the Palestinian Authority amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and its spillover into the West Bank.

The unrest began in Tulkarm, on 26 July, after the Palestinian Authority's security forces encircled the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, allegedly attempting to arrest Mohammed Jaber aka "Abu Shujaa", the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade who was hospitalized inside. Clashes broke out between Palestinian militants and security forces in the area while a crowd of civilian protestors attempted to obstruct the alleged arrest operation at the hospital. The situation ended with the security forces withdrawing from the hospital.

Following the events in Tulkarm, militants and protestors began clashing with security forces in Tubas after the attempted arrest of a member of the Tubas Brigade. Rioting also began occurring in Bethlehem, in protest of the Palestinian Authority's actions in Tulkarm.

Unrest

Tulkarm confrontations

Main article: July 2024 Tulkarm confrontations

On 26 July, Palestinian Authority security forces arrived at the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital and encircled it after learning of Abu Shujaa's hospitalization, leading to armed clashes between the Tulkarm Brigade and the security forces in the area. The Brigade and other Palestinian militias declared a state of high alert, and targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with heavy gunfire.

The Tulkarm Brigade, together with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, issued statements calling for the local population to mobilize and head to the hospital to lift the siege and prevent the arrest of Abu Shujaa. A large crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital in response, determined to obstruct the arrest operation. The Palestine Chronicle published a video from inside the hospital showing protestors confronting security forces, which reportedly deployed tear gas and fired on them, resulting in several wounded.

Ultimately, the security forces withdrew from the hospital, and the crowd retrieved Abu Shujaa and escorted him to the Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm.

Unrest spreads to Tubas and Bethlehem

Hours after the withdrawal of the security forces from the hospital, security forces in Tubas attempted to detain a member of the Tubas Brigade, and shot at him. They detained the militant's brother, who was released after an hour. The Tubas Brigade condemned this as an "assassination attempt" and referred to the security forces as puppets of the Shin Bet.

Later that day, a crowd of young protestors blocked roads in Tubas and began clashing with security forces, chanting slogans against them. The Tubas Brigade targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with gunfire.

A protest march also broke out in Bethlehem. Rioters clashed with security forces and set fire to the gates of their local headquarters. It was reported that the security forces beat and arrested a boy who was protesting.